Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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261. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will report on the implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 by her Department and by agencies which operate under the remit of her Department. [8249/23]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I am advised that my Department and agencies under its remit, continue to implement the relevant provisions of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017.

The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 (the Act) recognises the right of Irish Sign Language (ISL) users to use ISL as their native language, and to develop and preserve it. The Act places a statutory duty on all public bodies to provide ISL users with free interpretation when availing of or seeking to access services.

In regard to services provided by my Department and agencies under my remit, free interpretation services are made available on request, in, for example, our national cultural institutions and at Departmental events, such as the annual National Famine Commemoration.